Your morning espresso might do more than just jolt you awake—it could be a potent tool for managing blood sugar, potentially rivalling a widely prescribed diabetes medication, according to new scientific research.
Coffee Compounds vs. Prescription Medication
Scientists have directly compared the effects of compounds found in roasted Arabica coffee with acarbose, a common drug used to help stabilise glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The study, published in the journal Beverage Plant Research, found that specific compounds in coffee inhibit the same digestive enzyme targeted by the pharmaceutical.
This enzyme, alpha-glucosidase, plays a central role in breaking down carbohydrates during digestion. By blocking it, the release of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal is slowed, helping to blunt dangerous spikes in blood sugar. This mechanism closely mirrors how acarbose works in the body.
Discovery of New 'Caffaldehydes'
Using a detailed three-step extraction process, the research team isolated three previously unknown compounds from the coffee, naming them caffaldehydes A, B and C. All three demonstrated significant ability to inhibit the alpha-glucosidase enzyme.
The findings open a promising avenue for developing 'functional foods'—everyday items enhanced with naturally occurring, health-boosting compounds. In this case, foods or drinks containing these coffee compounds could offer glucose-lowering effects alongside other potential benefits like antioxidant activity.
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to its effects, leading to a harmful buildup of glucose in the blood. Poor management can result in severe complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and nerve damage.
A Growing Health Crisis in the UK
This research arrives amid a rapidly escalating diabetes crisis in the United Kingdom. Diabetes is the nation's fastest-growing health emergency, with almost 4.3 million people living with the condition in 2021/22.
Alarmingly, type 2 diabetes—which is linked to excess weight and typically diagnosed later in life—has seen a 39 per cent increase among people under 40, driven by rising obesity rates. It accounts for around 90 per cent of all diabetes cases.
While lifestyle changes like weight loss can sometimes reverse the condition, many of the more than 400 million people affected globally rely on long-term medication, including insulin, GLP-1 drugs, and acarbose.
The scientists emphasise that further research is crucial. Next steps will focus on testing the biological effects of the newly identified caffaldehydes and assessing how they behave in living cells. This discovery adds a new layer to the ongoing search for innovative, accessible strategies to manage a condition that places an immense burden on healthcare systems and individuals worldwide.
